Point guard Jose Calderon limped noticeably as he left the American Airlines Center after the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night.

After a one-game absence due to a bone bruise in his right ankle, Calderon returned to Dallas’ starting lineup and played 33 serviceable minutes, but the day-to-day designation will apparently continue as the Mavs begin a four-game road trip.

“It was good,” Calderon said of his ankle. “I don’t know what it’s going to be in a few hours, but it’s OK.”

Added Mavs coach Rick Carlisle: “We’ll see how he is tomorrow, but he was vital tonight. He played extremely well.”

Calderon’s statistics in the win over the Bobcats won’t overwhelm anybody. He scored 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting (4-of-5 from 3-point range) and dished out only one assist, only the sixth time he has had one or fewer assists in a game he started during his nine-year NBA career.

But Calderon’s calming effect for the offense has immense value for the Mavs, as does the threat he presents as a perimeter shooter.